Permanent-waving apparatus



June 26, 1928. 1,675,116

7 w. s. LEWIS PERMANENT WAVING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 19, 1926 F0 1NVEN TOR BY r M'QATTORNEY Patented June 26, 1928.

UNITED STATES WILBUR S. LEWIS, OF CLEVELAND,,OHIO.

PERMANENT-HAVING APPARATUS.

Application filed November 19, 1926. Serial No. 149.340.

steaming during a permanent waving proc-' ess, and heretofore, so far asI am aware there has been no means of determining the heateonditionsoperative upon the strand of hair during the heating operationof the waving PI'OCQSS. r

in permanent waving processes to which my present invention isapplicable, it is the usual practice to first moisten the hair with asoftening solution, and then gather the hair into a plurality of hairstrands each of which 7 is then wound around a separate curled rod.

The wound strands are then stretched lengthwise upon the rods, and,after being secured thereto, are wrapped with a pad of absorbentmaterial which is usually reviou'sly treated with a hair-treatingsolutlon, which may be the same as thatwith which the hair wasmoistened. The wound strand of hair is then placed in a container toenclose the same and heat is applied through the walls of the containerto effect what has come to be known asthe steaming process, whereby theliquid portions of the hair-treating materials are caused to take theform of steam and effect such a softening of the hair strands thatstretching of the been converted into steam and the temperature withinthe tube will rise above the boiling point of water, 212 degreesFahrenheit,

and above which temperature I have found injury to the hair occurs.

An object of my invention, therefore, is to prevent injury to the woundstrand of hair during the heating operation of a waving process.

hair of the patient during the heating operation.

Another object of my invention is to enable the operator and the patientoperated upon, during hair Waving process, to know at all times thedegree of heat to which the hair of the patient is at the time beingsubjected.

Another object of my invention is to provide a thermal responsive meansof such a form as to be capable of inclusion within the container of ahair waving apparatus in a position such as not to interfere with theusual hair waving process, and at the same time to be disposed incontact with the strand of hair operated upon adjacent the base of thestrand and co-operating with the container in such a way that aneffective seal is had against the undue escape of gases from thecontainer during the process.

Other objects of my invention and the invention itself will becomeapparent as the following description of a specific embodiment of myinvention progresses, and in which description reference will be had tothe accompanying drawings illustrating the said embodiment.

Referrin to the drawings:

Fig. 1 s ows a perspective view of an embodiment of my inventionv duringthe assembling operation while the wound strand of hair is beingenclosed prior to the steaming operation of a waving process.

Fig- 2 illustrates, in like view, portions being shown as broken away toreveal inner parts of the container and parts enclosed thereby,including thermal responsive means ready for the steaming operation of awaving process.

Fig. 3 is a View, in elevation, of the hair waving apparatus during thesteaming process, and with a pyrometer indicator illustrated as inoperation to indicate the degree of heat to which the hair is beingsubjected.

Fig. 4 is a view of the thermal means, circuit conductors, andpyrometer, in electrical circuit but prior to inclusion with a woundstrand of hair, the heating of which is to be indicated by thepyrometer.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 responsive I of Fi 4, andenlarged to twice-the size of the ot er figures;

Fig. 6 is a chart whereby a curve traversin ordinate and abscissae linesof reference indicates, at successive intervals of time, theprogressively increasing heat effective upon the strand of hair beingtreated.

Referring now to all of the figures of the drawing, in all of which likeparts are designated by like reference characters, at 1 I show a curlerrod comprising an outer tube 2 and an inner rod portion 3 telescopedwithin the tube and secured against longitudinal movement relativelythereto by V11- tue of an inwardly extending rib 4 of the tubeprojecting within a corresponding annular groove on the exterior surfaceof the rod. According to the construction illus trated in my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 109,077, filed Ma 14, 1926, the rod and tubejust are therein i lustrated and described as relatively rotatable inorder that the strand of hair, shown at 5, wound upon the tube 2 may betightened in accordance with the disclosure of the said prior aplication. The hair may be secured to the bifurcated end 6 of the rod bytying it with a cord'7 thereto and the hair is then moistened by ahair-treating solution and enclosed by a moistened flannel ribbon 8which completely covers and encloses the strand of hair and the curlerrod, exce t for the projecting ends thereof. I then encilose within thewrapping 8 of moistened flannel, or like material, an which may beimpregnated with the same kind of hair-treating solution as employed tomoisten the hair, a thermal responsive element 9 comprising a thermaljunction of two electrically dissimilar metals, such as cadmium andchromium, and-extending from each of the 'oined metals I provideelectrical circuit con uctors 11 and 12 which lead to an electricalcurrent indicating instrument, which together with the thermo-couple andcircuit conductors is commercially known as a pyrometer, the indicatinginstrument being shown at 13 and adapted to indicate, by movements of anindicating needle 14 over a dial scale 15, the amount of electricalcurrent traversing the electrical circuit conductors 11 and 12, byvirtue of the current set up by heating of the thermo-couple 9 ofdissimilar metals, in accordance with well known electrical principles.

I preferably graduate the scale 15, as illustrated, dividing it into twoparts, the left-hand portion 16 being relativel dark in color and ofsome such color as Inc or green, and the right-hand portion of the dial17 being relatively 1i ht in color and referably with some sucinscription as dry heat or da er, the junction between the two portions0 the scale being indicated by a heavy red or black line 18 and havingan inscription such as steam, as shown in such line 18.

the drawing, disposed closely adjacent to.

Of course, various other manners of marking the scale may be employed,but it is very desirable that the scale be so marked as. to emphasizedepartures from a temperature of and below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, andtoward higher tern eratures.

The thermo-couple 9 being p aced within the wrapping 8 and the portionof the circuit conductors 11 and 12 extending therefrom along the woundstrand of hair, and

preferably in contact therewith, being likewise enclosed for aconsiderable length, the tubular container 19 is then telesco ed overthe wound and wrapped strand of air and thermo-couple with leading-inwires for the thermo-coufle, and the sealing of the end portions 0 thetubular side walls against the wound strand of hair being accom-'plished at 20 and 21, in any suitable manner, such as by crimpinginwardly the material of the tubular container and holdin it in suchinward crimped condition w ereby escape of steam and gases iseflectually restricted and substantially prevented through the ends ofthe tube.

Although this sealing may be accom-.

plished in various ways, I preferably accomplish the same by employlng atube having pro'ecting portions 22 and 23, which, as descri d and shown,are inwardly crimped at 20 and 21, comprising a sheet of metal foil,such as aluminum foil, and which is made of sufliciently plastic,non-elastic material that it will take a set and will not restore by itsresiliency to a non-crimped position. I find that aluminum foil having athickness of .0016 possesses the necessary qualities to effect a goodseal, by crimping of the tubular foil, for all practical purposes. Ipreferably make the tube 19 of a layer of aluminum foil with exteriorand interior layers of thin paper all rolled together into the form of atube. the paper being of shorter length than the foil, which projects byportions 22 and 23 beyond the ends 24 and 25 of the paper portion of thetube.

At 26, closely adjacent the end of the tube most closely adjacent thescalpof the patient, I provide a small aperture for the esca of steamand gases from the interior oft e tube 19 to atmosphere. In'practice,the opening 26 is near the bottom end of the tube, the top end of thetube being that end from which projects the circuit conductors '11 and12 and which, in this portion of the circuit conductors, are enclosed bya fabric covering 27 which extends from a plug and socket connector 28to the thermo-couple 9. The circuit conductors 11 and 12 in the portion27 of their length are preferably of resilient stifl wire material, suchas bronze or the like. The plug and socket connector 28 of the circuitconductors 11 and 12 lead to the indicator 13 from the portion 27 extending within the container 19 under the wrapping 8. The portion 27 of theleading-1n wires 11 and 12 is preferably flattened in form, with thestiff leading-in wires arranged side by side and the fabric coveringenclosing the parallel leading-in wires, as illustrated best in Fig. 5.l/Vhde theexterior dimensions of the enclosing leading-in wires may bevaried, I find that very good results are secured when the dimension (1,Fig. 5, is as great as 1/10, and the dimension 6 is as great as 1/5".These dimensions are taken over the exterior of the tubular fabriccovering 30 for the circuit conductors 11 and 12. The thermo-couple 9 isplaced closely ad- 'acent the scalp end of the heated wound air, that isclosely adjacent the end 6 of the curler rod and preferably is placed inintimate contact with the hair wound upon the curler rod.

The position of the heating element is indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 2at 32, the heating element being annular in form, elongated andtelescoped over the exterior walls of the tube 19, its bore being some-What larger than the diameter of the walls. In practice, I secure verygood results by providing only one pyrometer means, comprising theindicator 13, circuit conductors 11 and 12, and thermo-couple 9, withleading-in wire portions of the conductors 11 and 12, 27, and place thethermo-couple within one of the steaming tubes of a large number ofsteaming tubes, such as 32 or 44,

which are simultaneously in use to effect permanent waving of the hairof the patient. I find that the heating effects within one tube areindicative of the heating effects in all of the tubes wherein steamingis initiated simultaneously with that in the first tube. The flattenedshape of the insulated leading-in wires permits the same to be Wound inwith the hair and still permit the ready telescoping of the tubularcontainer 19 over the wrapped wound hair.

Fig. 6 shows a chart indicating the temperatures according to theFahrenheit scale actually observed during a sample hair waving operationwherein the apparatus of my invention was actually used. It will be seenthat after a certain period of time following initiation of the heatingoperation, such as 12 minutes, the temperature starts to rise above 212degrees, and I find, in practice,

that'when the temperature operative upon the hair does so rise above 212degrees, the hair is damaged and will subsequently be brittle and break.

Having thus described my invention in a single embodiment, I am awarethat numerous and extensive departures may be made from the embodimentherein illustrated and described, but without departing from the spiritof my invention.

I claim:

ment, means to heat the wound strand of hair, in the presence ofmoisture, through thewalls of the wrapper, an electroresponsiveindicator means disposed exteriorly of the tube, and electrical circuitconductors interconnecting the said element and the said indicatormeans.

2. In a permanent waving apparatus for so hair, the combination with .acurler rod upon which a strand of hair is adapted tobe wound, of athermo-couple element of a fabric wrapper enclosing the wound strand ofhair and element with the element in con- 5 j I tact with the hair, asteaming tube telescoped over the wrapped strand of hair and element,means to heat the wound strand of hair, in the presence of moisture,through the walls of the tube and through the wrapis per, circuitconductors leading from the thermo-couple element and exteriorly of thetube andan exterior electroresponsive indicating means connected to thethermo-couple element by said circuit conductors, said indicator meansresponsive to the electrical current set up by heating of thethermocoupleto indicate the degree of heating of p the strand of hair.

3. In a hair permanent waving apparatus,

the combination with a curler rod around which, a strand of hair may bewound, "a

pair of circuit conductors, a thermo-c'ouple element joining theconductors at an end of each conductor, an insulating sleeve telescopedover the conductor, said thermo-couple element projecting beyond the end.of the:

sleeve, of a wrapper of fabric material on closing the wound strand ofhair, an end portion of said electrical circuit conductors and thethermo-couple, adapted to hold the thermo-couple in intimatecontact-With the wound strand of hair, and means to heat the woundstrand of hair, in the presence of moisture, through the walls of thewrapper.

4. In a hair permanent waving apparatus, the combination with a curlerrod around which a strand of hair may be wound, a pair of circuitconductors, a thermo-couple element joining the conductors at an end ofeach conductor, an insulating sleeve telescoped over the conductor, saidthermo-couple element projecting beyond the end of the sleeve of awrapper of fabric material enclosing the wound strand of hair, an endportion of said electrical circuit conductors and the thermo-coupleadapted to be held in intimate contact with the wound strand of hair,and means to heat the wound strand of hair, in the presence of moisture,through the walls of the tube, the portion of the circuit conductorsenclosed by the wrapper being of relatively resilient material.

5. In a hair permanent waving apparatus, the combination with a curlerrod around which is wound a strand of hair, a wrapper enclosing thewound strand of hair, a tube telescoped over the strand, means to heatthe wound strand by heat transmitted exteriorly of the tube through itswalls and through the wrapper, thermo-responsive means adapted to beplaced within the wrapper adjacent the hair strand, indicatingmeansadapted to be disposed remotely of the tube and exteriorly thereof, andmeans adapted to communicate the effect of temperature variationsaffecting the thermo-responsive means to said indicator, to cause it toindicate the temperature of the thermoresponsive means, a portion ofthevinterconnecting means forming a support for the thermo-responsivemeans and adapted to'be bound within the wrapper therewith.

6. In apparatus for permanent waving, the combination with a steamintube for enclosing a strand of hair to be heated from an extraneoussource of heat, of thermal-indicating means for indicating thetemperature to which the enclosed strand 'is subjected during the wavingprocess, said indicating means comprising heat responsive means rojectedinto the interior of the tube next adjacent the hair strand, anindicator disposed exteriorly of the steaming tube, and meanscommunicating the effect of heat upon the responsive means to theindicator,

said lastrnamed means being projected.

through an end of the steaming tube and sealed therewith to prevent theegress of heated vapors thereat.

7. The method of permanently waving hair which consists of heating thehair together with moisture, indicating the temperature existing at thehair, and discontinuing the heating when the temperature at the hairexceeds that of the evaporation of the moisture.

8. The method of permanently waving hair which consists of heating thehair together with moisture, indicating the temperature existingimmediately at the hair, and controlling the application of heat inaccordance with said indicated temperature.

9. The method of permanently waving hair which consists of wrapping thehair upon a rod, enclosing the hair with moisture within a chamber,indicating the temperature existing at the hair, heatin the hair andmoisture while in the chem er, gradually eva oratin the moisture, anddiscontinuing tie ap ication of heat when the temperature in icatedexceeds that required for evaporation of the moisture.

10. The process of ermanently waving hair which consists of gatheringthe hair into a plurality of strands, winding each strand upon a rod,and subjecting the same to moisture, applying heat to all the moistenedstrands simultaneously, indicating the temperature existing immediatelyat the hair of one strand, and discontinuing the applica tion of heatfrom all the strands upon the indication of a temperature exceeding thatrequired'for evaporation of the moisture.

11. The process of permanently waving hair which consists in gatherinthe hair into a plurality of separate stran s, wrapping each strand upona separate rod, enclosing each rod and strand within 'a separate chamberwith moisture, indicating the temperature existing immediately at thehair of one strand, applying heat simultaneously to all the chambers andevaporating moisture therein, and discontinuing the application of heatto all the chambers when the temperature indicated exceeds that requiredfor evaporation of the moisture.

12. In apparatus for permanent waving, the combination with means forenclosing a strand of hair to be heated from an extraneous source ofheat, of thermal-indicating means for indicating a critical temperatureto which the enclosed strand is subjected during the waving process,said indicating means comprising heat responsive means projected intothe interior of the enclosing means next adjacent the hair strand, anindicator disposed exteriorly of the strand enclosing means, and meanscommunicating the eflect of heat upon the responsive means to theindicator, said last named means being projected through an end portionof the enclosing means and sealed therewith to prevent the egress ofheated vapors thereat.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature this 12 day ofOctober, 1926.

' VVILBUR S. LEVVTS.

